2014_0513_CT_v68i14

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LOOKING BACK Current district chancellor, Constance Carroll, takes her post in 2004.

CT CityTimes

Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945

Vol. 68, No. 14

May 13, 2014

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION City perfomers take it to the edge in elaborate show

Weekly at sdcitytimes.com

District veteran to lead City By Chris Handloser City Times

The dancers in “The Salton Sea” playfully sprinkled the sand around during opening night of “Dancing on the Fine Edge” May 8.

Blending art with dance

Six departments at City collaborate in an indoor and outdoor production Story by Diego Lynch Photos by Celia Jimenez City Times The show could not be contained on one stage. Black-clad performers embodying an oil spill. Dancers tossing up sand with their hands. A group of young men and women sliding down parking lot stairs. Each of those scenes, and four more, comprised “Dancing on the Fine Edge,” presented by about 40 dancers on May 8, 9 and 10 in and around Saville Theatre. The show was a collaborative performance engaging City’s Drama, Dance, Fine Art, Photography, Music and Graphic Design programs. Alicia Rincon, the show’s director, spoke about its roots. “I had the idea to blend all

these beautiful and unique art pieces with dance,” said Rincon, co-chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department. She presented a show using this concept in 2008 at City and revived it for the Centennial celebration. Planning started a year ago. She invited the dance professors to meet their counterparts in Visual and Performing Arts. “To let us match ourselves up with whoever’s art we found interesting,” said Natalia Valerdi, a dance professor, who choreographed one of this year’s performances. From that point, it was up to the dance professors to create choreography and set design that would make use of the visual artist’s work.

From growing up wanting to be a firefighter to becoming the new president of San Diego City College, Dr. Anthony Beebe’s path has been one of enlightenment through education. Since 2006, Beebe, 57, has been president of the San Diego Community College District’s (SDCCD) Continuing Education, a system serving 3,600 non-credit students across seven campuses. It is the largest accredited, post-secondary institution of its kind in the US. He gave a wide-ranging interview days after being selected president and said he will bring to City a plan with four basic elements: social justice (student equity), access and completion, transitioning adult students to higher levels and making connections with the community. “I have a specific vision for City College that I want to invite students, faculty, staff and administrators to contemplate,” said Beebe. “In the short run, what I really need to be able to do is listen and understand what the concerns are of everyone.” He is wasting no time in accomplishing that goal. Drawing from his extensive trainDr. Anthony ing in deliberative Beebe democracy, Beebe sent out a questionnaire to City faculty, staff and students asking, “If only I were the new City College president… what would I do?” “I think that it engenders a sincere, genuine interest in me learning from them before I’m even there,” explained Beebe. It also impressed Associated Students Government President Carolina Moreno, and Beebe met her response to the questionnaire with great appreciation. “Little things like that where someone acknowledges your feedback and your perspective, that says something

Dancers in “Spill,” symbolizing an oil spill, moved toward a birdSee Dance, page 2 like figure which they enveloped in black fabric.

A century of success

March for rights

City College celebrates its 100 Year Commencement in style PAGE 7

May Day and the Fight for 15 PHOTO ESSAY PAGE 8-9

See Beebe, page 6

INDEX

News.................... 3,4 Arts...................... 10 Life....................... 11 Opinion............ 12,13


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